Ponting expects West Indies series to be tough

Port of Spain, May 13 (IANS) Australian captain Ricky Ponting expects a tough fight from the West Indies in the three-Test series, starting at Sabina Park, Kingston, next Thursday. Talking to reporters shortly on arrival at the Norman Manley Airport in Kingston Monday, Ponting predicted an exciting tour.

“It’s always a great place to come and play in the West Indies,” he said while pointing out Australia have “some good and not so good memories” in the Caribbean.

On their last tour, in 2003, West Indies scored a record 418 to win the final Test, after they lost the first three.

Ponting, however, said his team was expected to dominate the series. “I expect to win the series, but it’s going to be a tough series between two good teams.”

He was quick to point out that though West Indies were ranked at lowly eighth, they still have some quality players in skipper Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan who can turn a game on its head.

Ponting is highly impressed with the West Indies bowlers as they have been more consistent of late.

” Their attack is a lot better than it was a couple years ago, they now have a group of bowlers who have been playing together for some time now,” Ponting said.

Ponting said looking at West Indies’ recent tour of South Africa, they should have won it as they had dominated a couple of Tests.